After years of talks and a big format change, the OWGR and LIV Golf have reached a deal for awarding global ranking points. A promise that LIV has been making for its players since its inception. Now the league can guarantee points from its own events, but only from the top ten players. Both the OWGR and LIV have stated how difficult it was to come to even that agreement, but now the players are responding. Their response is either hopeful or not impressed.
Bryson DeChambeau On LIV Golf OWGR Points
On the neutral side of the discussion, Bryson DeChameau has given his take on the decision. He’s glad that points are finally being awarded, but he’s not entirely sure what to make of it.
“I haven’t been able to digest it fully (OWGR decision). I’ve seen just a potential for what they’re saying, like the breakdown of points, the top 10. I have no idea really what to think about it now. I’m just digesting it right. I had no idea how they were going to handle it. I didn’t know if we were going to get points. So, at least we were getting points, right?”
DeChambeau is not sure of how fair the decision will be for him or his colleagues in LIV Golf. During the interview, he had just gotten word of the decision, and as he said, he was still just trying to digest it.
Jon Rahm’s Response
On a somewhat more positive note, Jon Rahm was looking on the bright side of the agreement between the organizations. He’s, of course, glad that players have a chance to earn points, but he also sees this as a way for the league to get its foot in the door. However, Rahm doesn’t think it’s entirely fair, due to the caveat around only the top ten getting points. He doesn’t like that LIV isn’t being treated on equal footing with other tours. Rahm ends his interview on a positive note that, sure, there is work to be done, but this could be expanded into full recognition.
Lee Westwood Defends LIV
Looking over at Lee Westwood, he finds the details of the OWGR completely unfair to anyone outside of the top 10. He makes a point that the younger golfers who are starting on LIV will have their careers stunted. Given the stiff competition they’re playing against, they will have a hard time earning enough OWGR points to do much of anything outside of LIV. Westwood sees the decision as more bias against the league. With the limited points and handout, he doesn’t see it as LIV being taken seriously.
LIV Players With A Mixed Bag
Players are still processing what the agreement means. On the one hand, they are glad to finally be earning OWGR points for LIV Golf events. On the other hand, they can see that it’s not nearly as much as for a PGA event or DP World Tour event. For the foreseeable future, LIV players will still have to put in extra effort to maintain their global ranking.
Main Photo Credit: © Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters via Imagn Images
